Capturing the Art of Nature
Seymour, the mountain
An ideal day for hiking and a challenging target to tame
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
Summits on the Air
2017
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I hiked to the summit of Seymour way back in 2009 with my son Ethan and recollected that it was a reasonable hike and one I wanted to do again so I could claim another unique activation with my radio activity – Summits-on-the-air. So after having planned to do a major hike with Carolyn since the start of the summer, the air was finally clear enough (or so we thought) for her to join me as we tackled the trail. We were also considering Mt. Cheam, but Seymour allowed us to drive in Carolyn’s new electric car – a Chev Bolt. So off we went at 8:30 for the drive to the top parking lot on Mt. Seymour.
The drive went smoothly and Carolyn was having fun with the rapid acceleration the electric drive provides, for one who never liked to drive before this car, now she can’t get enough! We arrived to a full parking lot, there were a few spots still open furthest from where the trail starts but at least we had a spot. After getting our gear organized we started off for the far end of the parking lot and the trailhead. There were all sorts of groups starting out, many doing the smaller hikes but some were also starting up the main trail to the far summit. The initial trail is rocky and had a few short steep bits but it is really a nice trail to hike and we were making reasonable time as we slowly ticked off the markers telling us the distance to the summit. There were, as is often the case, a good number of groups of young people zipping past us as we clambered over the rocks. We took solace in the fact that most were not going to the true summit like we were!
The trail eventually merges onto the service road near the top of the mystery lake runs and there we had to be careful not to miss the small sign directing one off the road to the narrow trail that continues on to the summit. Dropping down a bit from the road we pass a lovely pond that had great reflections to photograph, but I couldn’t stay long as we had a good distance yet to cover. We continued along the trail as it climbed and descended a number of small mounds on its way to the first of the three Seymour summits. This part of the trail was actually quite pleasant and we were making good time. Then we encountered a small group coming back towards us saying that there was a bear on the trail not too much further along. That caused an animated discussion amongst the groups that were on the trail around us. Most of us decided to continue on but at least one group turned back.
We dropped down into the valley and started up the far side eventually reaching the fork in the trail with one path leading to the summit the other drops down and goes to Elsay Lake. We took the high route and eventually were passed by a group of women who had started out on the Elsay trail but decided to leave the bears alone and so went for the views instead. This next portion of the trail proved much more challenging as it was a prolonged steep incline up to the shoulder of the first summit. We had all sorts of fun things to deal with – loose gravel, steep smooth boulders to cling to, huge roots to work through, dirt, and even a bit of water. Then there were the loose roaming dogs that seemed to be tracking groups all over the place! I really don’t know why people would bring a small dog that can’t possibly get up a large rock face on its own, but there they were. After much hard work we reached the shoulder of first peak, we could see people on its summit far above us. We continued on and soon were at the summit area but this was not our goal so we started down to the col between the first and second peaks.
The down portion to the col went quite easily but then we saw the next up segment. It looked brutal, a steep gouge between two even steeper slopes. The route forward was littered with large boulders and loose gravel almost the entire way up from the col to the shoulder just below the summit of second peak! We started up the slot but we were moving very slowly at this point, not really sure why we were continuing, but we did. After what seemed like far too long we reached the top of the slot and the shoulder of second peak. Well if we thought that was an adventure we had even more excitement coming. The next task was to descend down some large rocks with minimal footing to follow a trail that was soon only a narrow ledge on the side of a rock face! Carolyn and I inched across this section to arrive at a wider safer area where we could catch our breath.
The trail then came to a steep drop where one encounters a root ladder that one can use to descend to the trail below! It looks cool and all but by now one is quite tired and the prospects of picking safe steps on the roots looked a bit challenging. I made it down but just as Carolyn was starting a group coming back said that there was a back way that was easier. They went up the alternate path and so Carolyn decided to start over using the somewhat easier way down this drop. Next we encountered a steep smooth rock face that we had to climb up and over. That was a bit uncomfortable as it didn’t offer much to hang on to as you worked your way up the face! But that too we made it over, thinking we weren’t sure how we would make it back down later.
The trail continued over a number of other smaller rack faces each with its own challenge but then we were finally on the shoulder just below the final summit. The way forward was another steep slot like the earlier one we had done ascending to second summit. Carolyn however had reached her limit and likely well beyond it. She decided to just stay here and gather her strength for the return. I started up the final slope and soon I was scrambling over the rock face that forms the summit area. I had reached the top! I walked across it to where I could see Carolyn below and there I set up my radio equipment. I got my main radio going but it wouldn’t transmit! Not sure what was wrong. That would be a disaster if I couldn’t now work any stations! I decided to put on my cheap Chinese radio knowing that it had trouble hearing but at least it transmitted. I soon had contact with Ralph and the summit was activated! I managed one more with that radio but like last time many were responding but I wasn’t hearing. I switched back to the good radio and now it was working! I soon had six more contacts in the log and now I could rest and eat some lunch.
Well, one had to get back before nightfall and so I packed up the radio gear and started taking some photos. The question I soon was asking was where is the city? The valley was once again filled with smoke! No wonder why we were struggling with the hike and Carolyn in particular. It seems that the forest fire smoke had moved in as the day progressed. Well we had to get back and it was a long way back, so I dropped down to where Carolyn waited and we started back to the car. It was a slow grueling return across the various challenges we met on the way up. Most of the steep sections were even harder on the descent than on the climb. But we took it slow and we safely made it back to the second peak and then down the slot to the col below first. The short rise went easily but then we had a long descent off of first summit to the valley area below. This time we were tired enough the route seemed interminable, yet even as we descended and the time of day pushing 5pm we were being constantly greeted by groups heading up! I never understand why people are heading up at the time they should be well on their way back.
Eventually we reached the pond just below the road where I stopped again to get some nice reflection photos. Then we had an easier walk along the service road, we elected like most others to follow the road down rather than the proper trail as the road was smoother even though it was loose dirt and gravel. Finally the parking lot came in to view! Still a ways to go but it was a welcome sight. After what seemed forever, we reached the end of the trail and were on the edge of the parking lot, now we just had to work up the strength to finish the trek to the car at the far end. Many of the cars had departed so we could make a more direct path straight to the car. Once there it was so nice being able to sit down and rest a bit before starting down.
Now one of the fun things with an electric car is its regen braking. At the parking lot we had a driving range of 210km when we reached the bottom we were up to 279km! So rather than heating one’s brake pads we had more than enough energy restored to get home, and in fact our remaining range when we got home was higher than when we left the summit! So much fun! It was a good hike, much harder than I had remembered but I succeeded in activating the summit and we enjoyed the views and sights along the way, we never did see a bear, though many others sighted them throughout the day. Now for several days of pain and suffering as our legs punish us for the abuse.